Apparatus foe stabilizing tarn



J. E. HAHN APPARATU S FOR STAPILIZING YARN Filed April 11, 1941 INVENTOR. J01. 5 5. M44 m/ Patented Dec. 22, 1942 APPARATUS FOR STAPILIZING YARN Jules E. Halin, Drnmmondville, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Celanese Corporation of America, a

corporation of Delaware Application April 11, 1941, Serial No. 388,025

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for stapilizing yarn, i. e., for converting yarn of continuous filaments into yarn containing staple fiber and having the appearance of spun yarn.

- In the manufacture of spun yarn from artificial fibers, the usual practice is to out continuous artificial filaments or waste filaments into comparatively short lengths, for example, lengths of IV, to 2 inches or more, and then subject the staple fiber produced to a series of operations appropriate to the length of the fiber. Such operations being similar to those accorded natural fibers such as cotton or wool, including opening, carding, drawing and spinning. These operations represent considerable expense in the production of such yarn since they involve a relatively slow transformation of the initial fibrous material to a finished yarn.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, convenient, expeditious and economical means for producing yarns similar in appearance to those containing staple fiber from yarn composed of continuous filaments.

Another object of this invention is the production of stapilized yarn by bringing a yarn oi continuous filaments into contact with a moving cutting element for cutting at least some of the filaments of the yarn at intervals along the length thereof.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a simple, inexpensive and efficient attachment for a winding, winding and doubling, or winding and twisting device for converting a yarn of continuous filaments into a staple fiber yarn without the necessity of cutting or breaking a continuous filament yarn into short lengths and then spinning the fiber thus produced.

Other objects of this invention, together with certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will appear from the following description and drawing.

in accordance with this invention a continuous filament yarn is subjected to the action of an abrasive cutting means between which and the yarn there is relative movement so as to break the continuity of the filaments of the yarn, whereby upon being twisted the resulting yarn resembles a yarn spun from fiber. The cutting operation is so carried out that at any point one or relatively few filaments of the yarn are cut or broken, or at least some of the filaments remain uncut or unbroken, so that the continuity of the yarn, or bundle of filaments, as a whole is retained.

The cutting of the individual filaments of the 55 yarn may be carried out in a regular or irregular manner depending upon the degree of filament cutting required and upon the characteristics of the yarn involved. It will be appreciated that in order to impart a uniform appearance along the length of the yarn, the cutting of the filaments should be carried out in a regular manner. Conveniently, the cutting operation is carried out during a twisting operation performed on the yarn in either a down-twisting or rip-twisting machine, and preferably in such a manner that a certain amount of twisting-in of the cut or broken filament ends occurs.

Preferably the cutting of the filaments of the yarn is efiected during a down-twisting operation with the abrasive cutting means arranged to engage the yarn as it proceeds from the supply package to a take-up package adapted to insert a twist in the yarn. While a yarn or bundle of filaments having little or no twist may be stapilized in accordance with this invention, I have found that more advantageous results are obtained by employing a yarn or bundle of filaments which already has an initial twist. Where doubled yarns are to be subjected to abrasive cutting action for the purpose of stapilizing the same, an appreciable doubling twist should be employed in order to insure even cutting of the filaments of the doubled yarn.

While the present invention is particularly con-v cemed with processing yarn of continuous synthetic filaments such as, for example, filaments made of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose and particularly cellulose acetate, it may also be applied to natural yarns such as silk, and also to the processing of yarn comprising or made up from discontinuous filaments or fibers in which case the fibers in the yarn are cut into smaller lengths. The present invention may also be used on mixed or compound yarns comprising different twists, plies, or origins.

Referring to the drawing, the device of my invention is shown as comprising a bar I, which may be of steel or other suitable material, on

' which is mounted a bearing member generally indicated by reference numeral 2. This bearing member may be a ball bearing, or a plain bearing made out of special material such as Oilite bronze. The bearing member 2 carries therein for free rotation a member 3 which is adapted to function as a pulley. The free end of pulley 3 is provided with an annular edge or flange 4 the purpose of which will hereinafter be described more fully. The free end of the pulley is also provided with a flat surface to which is attached,

as by means of a cap 5 and screws 6, an abrading wheel or disc l of emery, carborundum or other suitable abrasive material.

The device of my invention is adapted to be attached to the frame of a winding, doubling or winding and twisting machine in such a manner that the pulley 3 together with the abrading disc 7 is in the natural path of the yarn being operated upon. To this end my device is provided with effective means for positioning and maintaining it in any desired position. This means comprises a bar 8 of metal or other suitable ma--. terial which is mounted on and is adjustable relative to the bar I, the bars being fixed to each other in any position of relativ adjustment by means of a screw 9. The bar 8 is provided with a series of parallel openings it any one of which is adapted to receive a rod it which is attached to the frame oi the machine. The device of my invention may also be adjusted along rod H, bein held in adjusted position by means of a set screw l2.

Means are provided for guiding the yarn being operated upon into contact with the face of the abrading disc I, said means comprising a hookshaped yarn guide l3 attached by means of a screw it to a bracket l5, which bracket is slidably mounted on pins i6 fixed in openings Ill in bar i by means of set screws i8. Springs is are mounted on pins l6 and are adapted to give the yarn guide i3 9. fiexible mounting whereby the same may be adjusted quickly and easily. A pig-tail guide 20 cooperate with the hookshaped guide i3 to maintain the desired angle of contact between the yarn and the face of the abrading disc l.

In operation, my device is positioned by the means described above so that the pulley is in the natural path of the yarn or yarns of continuous filaments 2i to be processed as shown in the drawing. The yarns 26 are given one full turn around pulley 3 then passed over hookshaped guide l3 and through pig-tail guide 29, the arrangement being such that the edge a of the pulley acts as a distance piece and together with the guides l3 and 20 accurately positions the yarn with respect to the abrading disc l so that the yarn will have a wiping action across the face of the abrading disc. The pull of the talreup device (not shown) on the yarns causes the yarns to rotate the pulley 3 and the abradin disc I, the yarn subsequently rubbing against the surface of the rotating abrading disc "thus effecting an abrading action on the yarn.

While the drawing shows two threads being operated upon, it will be appreciated that one or more threads may be processed by the device of my invention.

A high degre of uniformity in the abrading action is obtained by reason of the accuracy with which yarn guide it may be positioned to cause the yarns to press on the abrasive surface to the required degree and the controlled angle at which bling device may be started while the yarn is in direct contact with the abrading wheel or disc. Furthermore, not only is the stapilizing device of my invention readily adjustable for different yarn deniers by removing one abrading wheel or disc and replacing the same with a finer or coarser one as the case may be, but also once the device is set for abrading a yarn of a certain denier the setting remains intact indefinitely. The device of my invention is also advantageous in that it necessitates no change in the set-up of the twisting machine itself so that regular twisting or doubling may be resorted to, without stapilizing, if desired. The device of the present invention stapilizes yarn uniformly throughout its length which, it will be appreciated, is very important in the production of textile materials from the stapilized yarn.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description and drawing are given merely by way of illustration and that many variationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for the production of a continuous staple fiber product from yarns of continuous filaments, comprising a freely rotatable member adapted to be rotated by a running yarn, an abrasive disc mounted on said member for movement therewith and means for guiding the running yarn on to the surface of said abrasive disc.

said means including an edge integral with said rotatable member whereby at least some of the filaments of the yarn are severed by said abrasive disc.

2. Apparatus for the production of a continuous staple fiber product from yarns of continuous filaments, comprising a freely rotatable member adapted to be rotated by a running yarn, an abrasive disc mounted on said member for movement therewith and means for guiding the running yarn on to the surface of said abrasive disc, said means including an edge integral with said rotatable member and a spring mounted yarn guide whereby at least some of the filaments of the yarn are severed by said abrasive disc.

3. Apparatus for the production of a continuous staple fiber product from yarns of continuous filaments, comprising a freely rotatable member adapted to be rotated by a running yarn, an abrasive disc mounted on said member for movement therewith and means for guiding the running yarn on to the surface of said abrasive disc, said means including an edge integral with said rotatable member and a plurality of yarn guides whereby at least some of the filaments of the yarn are severed by said abrasive disc.

4. Apparatus for the production of a continuous staple fiber product from yarns of continuous filaments, comprising a freely rotatable member adapted to be rotated by a running yarn, an abrasive disc mounted on said member for movement therewith and means for guiding the running yarn on to the surface of said abrasive disc, said means including an edge integral with said rotatable member, a spring mounted yarn guide and a fixed yarn guide whereby at least some of the filaments of the yarn are severed by said abrasive disc.

JULES E. HALIN. 

